Los Angeles on track to lowest homicide rate since 1967

LOS ANGELES -- Los Angeles police say the city could end the year with its lowest homicide rate in more than 40 years.

The Los Angeles Times says 291 killings were reported as of Sunday -- the lowest number since 1967. Homicides are down by a third since 2007, which was the last full year before the economic downturn.

It's part of a general reduction in violent crime in LA, which has fallen for the eighth straight year.

The rest of Los Angeles County also has seen a drastic drop in killings. The Times says there were 323 homicides through mid-December in areas patrolled by the Sheriff's Department and other police departments. That's down nearly 40 percent since 2007.

Many killings are gang-related. Sheriff Lee Baca says anti-gang programs may have helped reduce the toll.